System, method, mobile terminal and computer program product for providing push-to-talk chat in interactive mobile TV

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for providing an interactive service during a broadcast service includes a transmitting element and a processing element. The transmitting element is capable of communicating broadcast content of the broadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals. The processing element is configured to at least partially control the transmitting element. The processing element is configured to communicate with a network device in order to request a program specific group for communication of the interactive service to a receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group. The interactive service is communicated to the receiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group with reception of the broadcast service. The content associated with the interactive service originates from the receiving terminals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/398,030, filed Apr. 5, 2006, the entiretyof which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to wirelesstechnology and, more particularly, relate to enabling a mobile terminalto deliver chat services in conjunction with a mobile televisionbroadcast.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansionof wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, televisionnetworks, and telephony networks are experiencing an unprecedentedtechnological expansion, fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobilenetworking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, whileproviding more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer.

Current and future networking technologies continue to facilitate easeof information transfer and convenience to users. One area in whichthere is a demand to increase ease of information transfer relates toprocessing and display of video streams at a mobile terminal.Accordingly, digital broadband data broadcast networks have beendeveloped such as, for example, digital video broadcasting (DVB),Japanese Terrestrial Integrated Service Digital Broadcasting (ISDB-T),Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service(MBMS), and those networks provided by the Advanced Television SystemsCommittee (ATSC). In this regard, digital broadband data broadcastnetworks enjoy popularity in Europe and elsewhere for the delivery oftelevision content as well as the delivery of other data, such asInternet Protocol (IP) data. Several variants of the DVB standard exist,for example, DVB-T (terrestrial), DVB-H (handheld), DVB-C (cable) andDVB-S (satellite). DVB-H (handheld), for example, can provide increasedperformance particularly for wireless data delivery to handheld devices.

With the development of improved means for delivery of video data, ademand has grown for services that offer interactive aspectsincorporated along with aspects of television viewing. Thus, a needexists for providing interactive services transmitted as part of oralong with a video data stream.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system, method, apparatus and computer program product are thereforeprovided which allows a user of a mobile terminal, and particularly auser of a mobile television terminal, to engage in interactive chatduring a video broadcast. For example, push-to-talk over cellular chatcontent may be incorporated into a video data stream or transmitted inaddition to the video data stream. Accordingly, the user of the mobileterminal may simply push a button on the mobile terminal to enableone-to-many voice communications which are delivered as part of or alongwith the video data stream.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for providing aninteractive service during a broadcast service is provided. Theapparatus includes a transmitting element and a processing element. Thetransmitting element is capable of communicating broadcast data of thebroadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals. The processingelement is configured to at least partially control the transmittingelement. The processing element is configured to communicate with anetwork device in order to request a program specific group forcommunication of the interactive service to a receiving terminal that isa member of the program specific group. The interactive service iscommunicated to the receiving terminal that is a member of the programspecific group simultaneous with reception of the broadcast service. Thecontent associated with the interactive service originates from thereceiving terminals.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a mobile terminal for providing aninteractive service during a broadcast service is provided. The mobileterminal includes an interface element and a processing element. Theprocessing element is in communication with the interface element and isconfigured to transmit the interactive service to a first network devicein response to activation of the interface element. The processingelement is further configured to receive the interactive service fromthe first network device with reception of the broadcast service.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a computer program product forproviding an interactive service during a broadcast service is provided.The computer program product includes at least one computer-readablestorage medium having computer-readable program code portions storedtherein. The computer-readable program code portions include first andsecond executable portions. The first executable portion is forproviding a program guide including at least one program including anaddress associated with a program specific group to at least onereceiving terminal. The second executable portion is for transmittingdata of the broadcast service for receipt at the least one receivingterminal with the interactive service. The interactive service iscapable of origination at the at least one receiving terminal.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for providing aninteractive service during a broadcast service is provided. The methodincludes providing a program guide including at least one programincluding an address associated with a program specific group to atleast one receiving terminal, and transmitting data of the broadcastservice for receipt at the least one receiving terminal with theinteractive service. The interactive service is capable of originationat the at least one receiving terminal.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a system for providing aninteractive service during a broadcast service is provided. The systemincludes a first network device, a broadcast provider and at least onereceiving terminal. The first network device is capable of hostingconversations between members of a particular group. The broadcastprovider is configured to communicate with the first network device inorder to request a program specific group. The broadcast provider isconfigured to transmit the broadcast service. The at least one receivingterminal is configured to transmit the interactive service to members ofthe program specific group via the first network device in response toactivation of an interface element of the at least one receivingterminal. The at least one receiving terminal is further configured toreceive the broadcast service from the first network device withreception of the interactive service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communications systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a mobile terminal according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communications systemfor providing push-to-talk based chat in interactive mobile televisionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a control flow diagram illustrating a method of providingpush-to-talk based chat in an interactive mobile TV according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart according to an exemplary method of providingpush-to-talk based chat in an interactive mobile TV according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile terminal 10 that wouldbenefit from the present invention. It should be understood, however,that a mobile telephone as illustrated and hereinafter described ismerely illustrative of one type of mobile terminal that would benefitfrom the present invention and, therefore, should not be taken to limitthe scope of the present invention. While several embodiments of themobile terminal 10 are illustrated and will be hereinafter described forpurposes of example, other types of mobile terminals, such as portabledigital assistants (PDAs), pagers, laptop computers, mobile televisions,digital cameras and camcorders, audio players, video players, GPSdevices, and any combinations of the aforementioned devices, and othertypes of voice and text communications systems, can readily employ thepresent invention.

In addition, while several embodiments of the method of the presentinvention are performed or used by a mobile terminal 10, the method maybe employed by other than a mobile terminal. Moreover, the system andmethod of the present invention will be primarily described inconjunction with mobile communications applications. It should beunderstood, however, that the system and method of the present inventioncan be utilized in conjunction with a variety of other applications,both in the mobile communications industries and outside of the mobilecommunications industries.

The mobile terminal 10 includes an antenna 12 in operable communicationwith a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. The mobile terminal 10 furtherincludes a controller 20 or other processing element that providessignals to and receives signals from the transmitter 14 and receiver 16,respectively. The signals include signaling information in accordancewith the air interface standard of the applicable cellulartelecommunication system, and also user speech and/or user generateddata. In this regard, the mobile terminal 10 is capable of operatingwith one or more air interface standards, communication protocols,modulation types, and access types. By way of illustration, the mobileterminal 10 is capable of operating in accordance with any of a numberof first, second and/or third-generation communication protocols or thelike. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may be capable of operating inaccordance with second-generation (2G) wireless communication protocolsIS-136 (TDMA), GSM, and IS-95 (CDMA), or with third-generation (3G)wireless communication protocols, such as UMTS, CDMA2000, and TD-SCDMA.In an exemplary embodiment, both broadcast digital data and cellularnetwork communication data may be received at the antenna 12. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 may include oneor more antennae. In such a situation, for example, one antenna mayreceive broadcast digital data, while the second antenna may receivecellular network communication data and the third antenna may receiveanalog or digital radio broadcasting.

It is understood that the controller 20 includes circuitry required forimplementing audio and logic functions of the mobile terminal 10. Forexample, the controller 20 may be comprised of a digital signalprocessor device, a microprocessor device, and various analog to digitalconverters, digital to analog converters, and other support circuits.Control and signal processing functions of the mobile terminal 10 areallocated between these devices according to their respectivecapabilities. The controller 20 thus may also include the functionalityto convolutionally encode and interleave message and data prior tomodulation and transmission. The controller 20 can additionally includean internal voice coder, and may include an internal data modem.Further, the controller 20 may include functionality to operate one ormore software programs, which may be stored in memory. For example, thecontroller 20 may be capable of operating a connectivity program, suchas a conventional Web browser. The connectivity program may then allowthe mobile terminal 10 to transmit and receive Web content, such aslocation-based content, according to a Wireless Application Protocol(WAP), for example. Also, for example, the controller 20 may be capableof operating a software application capable of creating an authorizationfor delivery of location information regarding the mobile terminal 10,in accordance with embodiments of the present invention (describedbelow).

The mobile terminal 10 also comprises a user interface including aconventional earphone or speaker 24, a ringer 22, a microphone 26, adisplay 28, and a user input interface, all of which are coupled to thecontroller 20. The user input interface, which allows the mobileterminal 10 to receive data, may include any of a number of devicesallowing the mobile terminal 10 to receive data, such as a keypad 30, atouch display (not shown) or other input device. In embodimentsincluding the keypad 30, the keypad 30 may include the conventionalnumeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), and other keys used for operatingthe mobile terminal 10. Alternatively, the keypad 30 may include aconventional QWERTY keypad. The mobile terminal 10 further includes abattery 34, such as a vibrating battery pack, for powering variouscircuits that are required to operate the mobile terminal 10, as well asoptionally providing mechanical vibration as a detectable output. Themobile terminal 10 may further include a universal identity module (UIM)38. The UIM 38 is typically a memory device having a processor built in.The UIM 38 may include, for example, a subscriber identity module (SIM),a universal integrated circuit card (UICC), a universal subscriberidentity module (USIM), a removable user identity module (R-UIM), etc.The UIM 38 typically stores information elements related to a mobilesubscriber. In addition to the UIM 38, the mobile terminal 10 may beequipped with memory. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may includevolatile memory 40, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM)including a cache area for the temporary storage of data. The mobileterminal 10 may also include other non-volatile memory 42, which can beembedded and/or may be removable. The non-volatile memory 42 canadditionally or alternatively comprise an EEPROM, flash memory or thelike, such as that available from the SanDisk Corporation of Sunnyvale,California, or Lexar Media Inc. of Fremont, Calif. The memories canstore any of a number of pieces of information, and data, used by themobile terminal 10 to implement the functions of the mobile terminal 10.For example, the memories can include an identifier, such as aninternational mobile equipment identification (IMEI) code, capable ofuniquely identifying the mobile terminal 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an illustration of one type of system thatwould benefit from the present invention is provided. The systemincludes a plurality of network devices. As shown, one or more mobileterminals 10 may each include one or more antennae 12 for transmittingsignals to and for receiving signals from a base site or base station(BS) 44. The base station 44 may be a part of one or more cellular ormobile networks each of which includes elements required to operate thenetwork, such as a mobile switching center (MSC) 46. As well known tothose skilled in the art, the mobile network may also be referred to asa Base Station/MSC/Interworking function (BMI). In operation, the MSC 46is capable of routing calls to and from the mobile terminal 10 when themobile terminal 10 is making and receiving calls. The MSC 46 can alsoprovide a connection to landline trunks when the mobile terminal 10 isinvolved in a call. In addition, the MSC 46 can be capable ofcontrolling the forwarding of messages to and from the mobile terminal10, and can also control the forwarding of messages for the mobileterminal 10 to and from a messaging center. It should be noted thatalthough the MSC 46 is shown in the system of FIG. 2, the MSC 46 ismerely an exemplary network device and the present invention is notlimited to use in a network employing an MSC.

The MSC 46 can be coupled to a data network, such as a local areanetwork (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), and/or a wide areanetwork (WAN). The MSC 46 can be directly coupled to the data network.In one typical embodiment, however, the MSC 46 is coupled to a GTW 48,and the GTW 48 is coupled to a WAN, such as the Internet 50. In turn,devices such as processing elements (e.g., personal computers, servercomputers or the like) can be coupled to the mobile terminal 10 via theInternet 50. For example, as explained below, the processing elementscan include one or more processing elements associated with a computingsystem 52 (two shown in FIG. 2), origin server 54 (one shown in FIG. 2)or the like, as described below.

The BS 44 can also be coupled to a signaling GPRS (General Packet RadioService) support node (SGSN) 56. As known to those skilled in the art,the SGSN 56 is typically capable of performing functions similar to theMSC 46 for packet switched services. The SGSN 56, like the MSC 46, canbe coupled to a data network, such as the Internet 50. The SGSN 56 canbe directly coupled to the data network. In a more typical embodiment,however, the SGSN 56 is coupled to a packet-switched core network, suchas a GPRS core network 58. The packet-switched core network is thencoupled to another GTW 48, such as a GTW GPRS support node (GGSN) 60,and the GGSN 60 is coupled to the Internet 50. In addition to the GGSN60, the packet-switched core network can also be coupled to a GTW 48.Also, the GGSN 60 can be coupled to a messaging center. In this regard,the GGSN 60 and the SGSN 56, like the MSC 46, may be capable ofcontrolling the forwarding of messages, such as MMS messages. The GGSN60 and SGSN 56 may also be capable of controlling the forwarding ofmessages for the mobile terminal 10 to and from the messaging center.

In addition, by coupling the SGSN 56 to the GPRS core network 58 and theGGSN 60, devices such as a computing system 52 and/or origin server 54may be coupled to the mobile terminal 10 via the Internet 50, SGSN 56and GGSN 60. In this regard, devices such as the computing system 52and/or origin server 54 may communicate with the mobile terminal 10across the SGSN 56, GPRS core network 58 and the GGSN 60. By directly orindirectly connecting mobile terminals 10 and the other devices (e.g.,computing system 52, origin server 54, etc.) to the Internet 50, themobile terminals 10 may communicate with the other devices and with oneanother, such as according to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), tothereby carry out various functions of the mobile terminals 10.

Although not every element of every possible mobile network is shown anddescribed herein, it should be appreciated that the mobile terminal 10may be coupled to one or more of any of a number of different networksthrough the BS 44. In this regard, the network(s) can be capable ofsupporting communication in accordance with any one or more of a numberof first-generation (1G), second-generation (2G), 2.5G and/orthird-generation (3G) mobile communication protocols or the like. Forexample, one or more of the network(s) can be capable of supportingcommunication in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocolsIS-136 (TDMA), GSM, and IS-95 (CDMA). Also, for example, one or more ofthe network(s) can be capable of supporting communication in accordancewith 2.5G wireless communication protocols GPRS, Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), or the like. Further, for example, one or more ofthe network(s) can be capable of supporting communication in accordancewith 3G wireless. communication protocols such as Universal MobileTelephone System (UMTS) network employing Wideband Code DivisionMultiple Access (WCDMA) radio access technology. Some narrow-band AMPS(NAMPS), as well as TACS, network(s) may also benefit from embodimentsof the present invention, as should dual or higher mode mobile stations(e.g., digital/analog or TDMA/CDMA/analog phones).

The mobile terminal 10 can further be coupled to one or more wirelessaccess points (APs) 62. The APs 62 may comprise access points configuredto communicate with the mobile terminal 10 in accordance with techniquessuch as, for example, radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth (BT), infrared(IrDA) or any of a number of different wireless networking techniques,including wireless LAN (WLAN) techniques such as IEEE 802.11 (e.g.,802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, etc.), WiMAX techniques such as IEEE802.16, and/or ultra wideband (UWB) techniques such as IEEE 802.15 orthe like. The APs 62 may be coupled to the Internet 50. Like with theMSC 46, the APs 62 can be directly coupled to the Internet 50. In oneembodiment, however, the APs 62 are indirectly coupled to the Internet50 via a GTW 48. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the BS 44 may beconsidered as another AP 62.

As will be appreciated, by directly or indirectly connecting the mobileterminals 10 and the computing system 52, the origin server 54, and/orany of a number of other devices, to the Internet 50, the mobileterminals 10 can communicate with one another, the computing system,etc., to thereby carry out various functions of the mobile terminals 10,such as to transmit data, content or the like to, and/or receivecontent, data or the like from, the computing system 52. As used herein,the terms “data,” “content,” “information” and similar terms may be usedinterchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, receivedand/or stored in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit andscope of the present invention.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, in addition to or in lieu of coupling themobile terminal 10 to computing systems 52 across the Internet 50, themobile terminal 10 and computing system 52 may be coupled to one anotherand communicate in accordance with, for example, RF, BT, IrDA or any ofa number of different wireline or wireless communication techniques,including LAN, WLAN, WiMAX and/or UWB techniques. One or more of thecomputing systems 52 can additionally, or alternatively, include aremovable memory capable of storing content, which can thereafter betransferred to the mobile terminal 10. Further, the mobile terminal 10can be coupled to one or more electronic devices, such as printers,digital projectors and/or other multimedia capturing, producing and/orstoring devices (e.g., other terminals). Like with the computing systems52, the mobile terminal 10 may be configured to communicate with theportable electronic devices in accordance with techniques such as, forexample, RF, BT, IrDA or any of a number of different wireline orwireless communication techniques, including USB, LAN, WLAN, WiMAXand/or UWB techniques.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be describedwith reference to FIG. 3, it should be noted that the mobile terminal 10of FIG. 1 and numerous other mobile terminals may also be used toimplement the present invention. Reference is now made to FIG. 3, whichillustrates a front view of a mobile terminal 80 in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. It should be understoodthat the mobile terminal 80 of FIG. 3, may include substantially similarcapabilities and elements to those of the mobile terminal 10 of FIG. 1.However, the mobile terminal 80 of FIG. 3 may also include additionalfeatures, some of which are shown in FIG. 3. In an exemplary embodiment,the mobile terminal 80 is a mobile television set. Accordingly, themobile terminal 80 is capable of receiving and displaying videobroadcast data at a display 82, while simultaneously delivering relatedaudio broadcast data via a speaker similar to that shown in FIG. 1.Additionally, the mobile terminal 80 may have the ability to function asa mobile telephone capable of accepting user voice input at a microphonesimilar to that shown in FIG. 1 and subsequently transmitting andreceiving voice data while in communication, for example, with the BS 44of FIG. 2.

Unlike the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the mobileterminal 80 of this exemplary embodiment does not employ a keypad.Instead, the mobile terminal 80 includes the display 82 and a userinterface. The user interface includes a touch pad 84 and various pushbuttons 86, which may be manipulated in order to select an object. Inthis regard, the touch pad 84 may be used to scroll an interface devicesuch as a cursor over the display 82 in order to select objects oritems, for example, from a menu or by clicking on items displayed on thedisplay 82. For example, the touch pad 84 may be manipulated until thecursor is disposed over an object, an icon or a menu item and clicked.Alternatively, if the display 82 includes a touch screen, a pen, afinger or other implement may be used to click on and select the object.In response to selection of the object, by clicking or any othersuitable mechanism, a predefined or user defined function associatedwith the object may be accessed.

The mobile terminal 80 may be capable of engaging in push-to-talk chator any other text or voice based real time conversation enablingmechanism by which a user of the mobile terminal 80 can receiveconversation data from one or a plurality of other mobile terminal usersof a predefined group and transmit conversation data to be shared withthe other mobile terminal users of the group. In this regard, the mobileterminal 80 may include an interface element such as, for example, apush-to-talk button 88. The interface element may be any device or meansembodied in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and softwarethat is capable of performing the functions described below. When theinterface element is operated (i.e., when the push-to-talk button 88 ispressed), the controller 20 accepts a voice input from the user of themobile terminal 80, for example, at a microphone of the mobile terminal80 and causes the mobile terminal 80 to transmit voice data generatedresponsive to the voice input to, for example, the BS 44 for subsequenttransmission via a chat service to the other mobile terminal users ofthe group.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communications systemfor providing push-to-talk based chat in interactive mobile televisionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thesystem includes the mobile terminal 80, which may be in communicationwith a wireless network 90 along with other mobile terminals including,for example, Terminal A 92 and Terminal B 94. In an exemplaryembodiment, the system further includes a broadcast provider 96 which iscapable of broadcasting digital television (TV) content and/or digitalor analog radio broadcasting content to any of the terminals 80, 92 and94 either directly, or via a broadcast network 91 as shown in FIG. 4.The wireless network 90 and the broadcast network 91 may each be anysuitable network. For example, the wireless and broadcast networks 90and 91 may be any corresponding one of the networks described above withreference to FIG. 2. The system may also include network devices such asa push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) server 98 and a presence server 100.It should be noted, that although FIG. 4 is described in reference tothe PoC server 98, any device or means embodied in hardware, software,or a combination of hardware and software which is capable of providingfunctionality to permit management and/or operation of a real time orinteractive chat services among multiple users. Thus, the PoC server 98is merely exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the presentinvention.

In an exemplary embodiment, the PoC server 98 includes a processingelement 99 that controls operation of the PoC server 98. The processingelement 99 may communicate signals to and/or from the wireless network90. The PoC server 98 provides the interactive chat services to groupmembers or subscribers to a chat service. Accordingly, for purposes ofdescribing the present embodiment, it will be assumed that each of theterminals 80, 92 and 94 are subscribers to the chat service. In order tojoin or start a conversation, each of the terminals 80, 92 and 94 mayissue a call to the PoC server 98 to join a particular group. Detailsabout the particular group may be accessed by any of the terminals 80,92 and 94 after the call is made. For example, the details may include,the name of the particular group and a list of group members that arecurrently active (i.e., involved in or monitoring a currentconversation). Generally speaking, when the push-to-talk button 88 ofthe mobile terminal 80 is pushed while connected to the PoC server 98,the mobile terminal 80 accepts voice input from the user of the mobileterminal 80. The voice input is processed by the mobile terminal 80 andtransmitted to the PoC server 98 as voice data which includes chatconversation content via the wireless network 90. In an exemplaryembodiment, the PoC server 98 then communicates the voice data to eachof the other group members (i.e., Terminals A and B) again via thewireless network 90. Exemplary embodiments of the present inventionfurther enable the chat service to be provided in addition to or as partof a video data broadcast such as, for example, during a DVB-H programbroadcast as described in greater detail below.

The presence server 100 may be any device or means embodied in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software which is capable ofproviding and/or managing presence information for consumption by usersof the terminals 80, 92 and 94. Presence information may includeinformation that is accessible to other users to inform the other usersthat a particular terminal is available for PoC interaction. Presenceinformation may also include rules that govern which other users areallowed to receive information about the particular terminal. Forexample, if it is assumed that Terminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 areoperated by other users, and the user of the mobile terminal 80 isconsidering making a call to the PoC server 98 to engage in chatservices, the user of the mobile terminal 80 may access the presenceserver 100 via the wireless network 90 to determine which terminals arecurrently available for chat services. Assuming further that bothTerminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 are actually available, the user of themobile terminal 80 may receive an indication that either/or both ofTerminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 are available depending upon whetherTerminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 have rules that exclude the mobileterminal 80 from receiving such information and the configuration of thepresence server 100. In an exemplary embodiment, each time any terminalinquires as to the availability of another terminal, the presence server100 queries an accept list and a reject list in the PoC server 98. Theaccept and reject lists define the rules regarding who should and shouldnot be permitted to access information related to availability of theterminal inquired about. Each of the terminals 80, 92 and 94 may have acorresponding accept list defining other users that are allowed to viewthe availability of the corresponding terminals 80, 92 and 94 and areject list defining users that are not allowed to view the availabilityof the corresponding terminals 80, 92 and 94. In other words, forexample, if Terminal A 92 adds the mobile terminal 80 to the acceptlist, while Terminal B 94 adds the mobile terminal 80 to the rejectlist, the mobile terminal 80 will see that Terminal A 92 is available,while the mobile terminal 80 will not see that Terminal B 94 isavailable even though both Terminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 may actuallybe available. If, however, neither Terminal A 92 nor Terminal B 94 haveadded the mobile terminal 80 to either the accept or reject lists, thenwhether or not Terminal A 92 and Terminal B 94 are indicated as beingavailable for a PoC call depends on a configuration of the presenceserver 100, which could be configured by default to either indicateavailability of both terminals or not.

The presence server 100 therefore allows users to see who is online andavailable for a conversation before making the PoC call to a group,which may encourage calls or at least reduce a number of unsuccessfulcalls. It should be noted that although FIG. 4 shows the presence server100, it is not necessary that the presence server 100 be implemented inorder to practice embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, thepresence server 100 may be collocated with the PoC server 98.Alternatively, the functionality of the presence server 100 may beperformed by a module or element of the PoC server 98.

In an exemplary embodiment, the broadcast provider 96 may include aprocessing element 95 for controlling operation of the broadcastprovider 96. The broadcast provider 96 can be capable of directly orindirectly transmitting (e.g. multicasting or point-to-point casting)content to any digital broadcast receiving terminal such as theterminals 80, 92 and 94. The content may be delivered, for example, inaccordance with a digital broadcasting technique, such as DVB-H. In thisregard, the broadcast provider 96 can be capable of transmittingbroadcast content via satellite, a DSL connection, a WLAN, or otherwired or wireless communication.

In accordance with a number of digital broadcasting techniques, such asDVB-H, Internet Protocol (IP) Datacasting (IPDC) can be utilized toprovide audio, video, data and/or other content to the terminals 80, 92and 94. In this regard, the broadcast provider 96 can be capable ofproviding IP datacasting content to the terminals 80, 92 and 94utilizing a digital broadcasting technique. DVB-H, for example, usesMPEG-2 transport streams, and as such, IP data can be encapsulated intoDVB transmission signals sent from the broadcast provider 96. Datastreams including IP datagrams can be supplied from several sources, andcan be encapsulated by an IP encapsulator (not shown). The IPencapsulator, in turn, can feed the encapsulated IP data streams intothe digital broadcasting (e.g., DVB-H) network.

The encapsulated IP data streams can then be transported to one or moretransmission sites, where the transmission sites form cells of a databroadcasting network such as the broadcast network 91. For example, theencapsulated IP data streams can be transported to one or moretransmission sites on an MPEG-2 transport stream for subsequenttransmission over the air directly to the terminals 80, 92 and 94, or toa receiver station serving one or more terminals. As will beappreciated, the MPEG-2 transport stream, from production by the IPencapsulator, to reception by the terminals 80, 92 and 94 or thereceiver station, may be uni-directional in nature. In this regard, IPpackets containing the data can be embedded in multi-protocolencapsulation (MPE) sections that are transported within transportstream packets.

The broadcast provider 96 may provide mobile TV service and content.Program information for the mobile TV service may be delivered, forexample, in an electronic service guide (ESG) or in an electronicprogram guide (EPG). In an exemplary embodiment, the ESG, for example,may indicate that a particular program correlates to a particular PoCchat group. Such indication may occur, for example, by use of an icon, abutton, a soft-key, a hard-key, a link, or text indicating thecorrelation. Selection of the indication by the user of the mobileterminal 80 may link the user of the mobile terminal 80, for example, tothe PoC server 98 via an address or uniform resource locator (URL)associated with the link. Thus, the particular program can be identifiedto viewers of the ESG as a program that offers concurrent capability toparticipate in interactive chat while viewing broadcast video andhearing broadcast audio corresponding to the particular program. Forexample, an icon next to a name of the particular program in the ESG maybe used to indicate that the particular program correlates to theparticular PoC chat group. If the user of the mobile terminal 80, forexample, selects the particular program in the ESG, the mobile terminal80 may automatically be entered into the particular PoC chat group viathe link. However, under an alternative arrangement, the mobile terminal80 may begin to receive broadcast content without being automaticallyentered into the particular PoC chat group without a request by the userof the mobile terminal 80. In other words, although the mobile terminal80 receives the broadcast content, chat content may not be delivered tothe mobile terminal 80 unless the user requests delivery of the chatcontent in addition to accessing the particular program in the ESG.Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, when the user selects the particularprogram in the ESG which correlates to the particular PoC chat group, anicon or other selectable item may be displayed on the mobile terminal 80to allow the user to join the particular PoC chat group, for example,via the link being associated with the icon or other selectable item.

Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the broadcast provider 96 mayprovide digital video content to the terminals 80, 92 and 94 while eachof the terminals 80, 92 and 94 are substantially simultaneously engagedin a real time conversation as part of an interactive chat sessionhosted at the PoC server 98. Thus, any of the terminals 80, 92 and 94may utilize the push-to-talk button 88 to share voice data or text datawith each other member of the group. In an exemplary embodiment, thebroadcast provider 96 may supply a single video stream over atransmission channel. The broadcast provider 96 may then provide one ormore audio channels corresponding to the video stream over separatetransmission channels. One or more of the audio channels deliveringbroadcast audio corresponding to the video stream may correspond to aPoC chat group. Thus, audio delivered to members of the PoC chat groupmay include the broadcast audio corresponding to the video stream andaudio corresponding to the voice data from conversations generated amongmembers of the PoC chat group. The audio corresponding to the voice datafrom the conversations may be interleaved with the broadcast audio.

In an exemplary embodiment in which more than one of the audio channelscorrespond to a PoC chat group, it may be possible to organize PoC chatgroups by affinity or any other suitable distinction. For example, if asporting event is being broadcast by the broadcast provider 96 there maybe a single video stream transmitted and multiple corresponding audiostreams. One of the audio streams may not include a PoC chat group whileat least two other audio streams include a PoC chat group. Of the atleast two other audio streams, one of the audio streams may include aPoC chat group designated for home team fans to chat, while another ofthe audio streams may include a PoC chat group designated for away teamfans to chat.

The chat conversation content generated at each of the terminals 80, 92and 94 is transmitted from each of the terminals 80, 92 and 94 when acorresponding interface element of each of the terminals 80, 92 and 94is activated. The chat conversation content is transmitted to the PoCserver 98, for example, via the wireless network 90. In an exemplaryembodiment, the PoC server 98 may transmit chat conversation contentreceived from one of the terminals 80, 92 and 94 to remaining ones ofthe terminals and any other terminals that are members of the PoC chatgroup via a wireless telecommunication connection, or a packetconnection. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the PoC server 98may transmit the chat conversation content to the broadcast provider 96,which then transmits the chat conversation content to all receivingterminals capable of receiving and processing data from the broadcastprovider 96. In this regard, the broadcast provider 96 may transmit thechat conversation content as audio data. In an alternative exemplaryembodiment, the broadcast provider 96 may include a speech recognitionelement 97. The speech recognition element 97 may be any device or meansembodied in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and softwarethat is capable of converting an audio input into a text output.According to this exemplary embodiment, the chat conversation content istransmitted from the broadcast provider 96 to all receiving terminals astext corresponding to the voice data transmitted from the terminal 80,92 or 94 that originated the voice data.

It should be noted that any combination of the above transmissionmethods may also be employed. For example, the PoC server 98 maytransmit chat conversation content received from one of the terminals80, 92 and 94 to remaining ones of the terminals and any other terminalsthat are members of the PoC chat group via the packet connection andalso transmit the chat conversation content to the broadcast provider96. The broadcast provider 96 may then convert a format of the chatconversation to text and transmit the text output for receipt by allreceiving terminals.

FIG. 5 is a control flow diagram illustrating a method of providingpush-to-talk based chat in an interactive mobile TV according to anexemplary embodiment. It will be understood that, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, signals shown in dottedlines are either optional or alternative in nature. Initially, adecision may be made, for example, by an operator at the broadcastprovider 96, to create a PoC chat group to correspond with a particulartelevision broadcast, such as a selected program. The broadcast provider96 may then send a message 102 to the PoC server 98 requesting creationof the PoC chat group. In response to the request, the PoC server 98sends a message 104 to the broadcast provider 96 to return aspecification or address for the PoC chat group. The address may be, forexample, a URL for a channel created to host the PoC chat group. Thebroadcast provider 96 may then update the ESG to indicate that theparticular video broadcast is associated with the PoC chat group.Optionally, the mobile terminal 80 may access the presence server 100 atoperation 106 to determine which other terminals are available to jointhe PoC chat group. The presence server 100 responds to queries from themobile terminal 80 regarding the availability of other terminals to jointhe PoC chat group at operation 108.

The ESG 110 may be broadcast to other subscriber terminals including themobile terminal 80. The other subscriber terminals may include both PoCenabled terminals and terminals that are not PoC enabled. Afterconsulting the ESG, a program may be selected by the mobile terminal 80and/or the other subscriber terminals from the ESG 110 that correlatesto the PoC chat group via a message 112. Broadcast content 114 may thenbe sent to the mobile terminal 80 and/or the other subscriber terminals.In an additional exemplary embodiment, sending the message 112 is notnecessary, but the terminal 80 adjusts itself to receive and/or decodethe broadcast content 114. The broadcast content 114 may includebroadcast video content and/or broadcast audio content and/or broadcastdata content via either the same or separate channels. In response toactivation of the interface element such as, for example, when a user ofeither the mobile terminal 80 or the PoC enabled terminals among theother subscriber terminals presses the push-to-talk button of theirrespective terminals, a voice input may be received at their respectiveterminals and transmitted as PoC chat conversation audio input 116 tothe PoC server 98. In an exemplary embodiment, the mobile terminal 80and the PoC enabled terminals among the other subscriber terminalsreceive PoC chat conversation audio output 118 from the PoC server 98using normal PoC methods. In other words, only subscribers to the PoCchat group may receive PoC chat conversation audio in this exemplaryembodiment. The PoC chat conversation audio may be interleaved with thebroadcast audio content when heard at the mobile terminal 80 and/or the

PoC enabled terminals among the other subscriber terminals.Alternatively, the PoC chat conversation audio may be transmitted viathe wireless telecommunication network 90, and the terminal 80 rendersthe both PoC audio and broadcasting audio content.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the PoC server 98 may send thePoC chat conversation audio to the broadcast provider 96 so that thebroadcast provider 96 as shown at line 120. Then the broadcast provider96 may transmit the PoC chat conversation audio to the mobile terminaland/or the other subscribers along with the broadcast video content andthe broadcast audio content as shown at line 122. In other words, inthis exemplary embodiment, the PoC chat conversation audio istransmitted, for example, as a portion of the DVB-H transmission.Accordingly, both the PoC enabled terminals and the terminals that arenot PoC enabled can receive the PoC chat conversation audio interleavedwith the broadcast audio content when heard at the mobile terminal 80and/or the other subscriber terminals.

It should be noted that although the preceding has been described in thecontext of audio PoC chat content, it is also envisioned that PoC chatcontent could be text, data or any combination of data, text and audio.Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention are not limited tointeractive chat, but may also be applicable to simultaneous delivery ofbroadcast data and any interactive service. Additionally, although thepreceding has been described in the context of video broadcast content,it should be noted that the broadcast content could also be radio, datasuch as games, or any combination of radio, television, and datacontent.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a system, method and program product accordingto exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will be understood thateach block or step of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in theflowcharts, can be implemented by various means, such as hardware,firmware, and/or software including one or more computer programinstructions. For example, one or more of the procedures described abovemay be embodied by computer program instructions. In this regard, thecomputer program instructions which embody the procedures describedabove may be stored by a memory device of the mobile terminal and/or aserver and executed by a built-in processor in the mobile terminaland/or the server. As will be appreciated, any such computer programinstructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmableapparatus (i.e., hardware) to produce a machine, such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowcharts block(s) or step(s). These computer program instructions mayalso be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computeror other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, suchthat the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce anarticle of manufacture including instruction means which implement thefunction specified in the flowcharts block(s) or step(s). The computerprogram instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps forimplementing the functions specified in the flowcharts block(s) orstep(s).

Accordingly, blocks or steps of the flowcharts support combinations ofmeans for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps forperforming the specified functions and program instruction means forperforming the specified functions. It will also be understood that oneor more blocks or steps of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks orsteps in the flowcharts, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions orsteps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

In this regard, one embodiment of a method for providing interactivechat during a video broadcast includes requesting setup of a programspecific group at a network device at operation 200. At operation 210,an address associated with the program specific group from the networkdevice is received. At operation 220, a program guide including at leastone program including the address associated with the program specificgroup to at least one receiving terminal is provided. At operation 230,data of a first media type is transmitted for simultaneous receipt andoutput of a second media type by at the least one receiving terminal.The second media type is capable of origination at the at least onereceiving terminal.

The above described functions may be carried out in many ways. Forexample, any suitable means for carrying out each of the functionsdescribed above may be employed to carry out the invention. Furthermore,many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising at least one processorand at least one memory storing computer program code configured to,with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least performthe following: at least partially control a transmitter capable ofcommunicating broadcast content of a broadcast service to a plurality ofreceiving terminals that are members of a program specific group, theprocessor being configured to communicate with a network entity in orderto request setup of the program specific group for communication ofinteractive service content to at least one of the receiving terminalsthat is a member of the program specific group, the interactive servicecontent being communicated to the at least one of the receivingterminals that is a member of the program specific group along with thebroadcast content to enable output of both the broadcast content and theinteractive service content at the at least one of the receivingterminals, wherein the interactive service content originates from atleast one of the receiving terminals, wherein the broadcast contentoriginates from the transmitter, which is not a member of the programspecific group, and wherein information about available broadcastcontent is provided in an electronic service guide (ESG).
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast content is one of digitalvideo broadcast data, radio broadcast data, or game application data. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interactive service contentprovides chat content in one of audio or text formats.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the interactive service content is received as voiceinput and wherein the processor is configured to convert the voice inputto text prior to transmission to the receiving terminals.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to, via thecomputer program code, cause the apparatus to provide a link for thereceiving terminals to access a chat group hosted at the network entityvia a uniform resource locator (URL) in the ESG transmitted by thetransmitting element.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processoris configured to, via the computer program code, cause the apparatus totransmit group information regarding the members of the program specificgroup to the receiving terminals.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe interactive service content is communicated to the receivingterminal that is a member of the program specific group substantiallysimultaneously with the broadcast service.
 8. A system comprising: afirst network entity configured to host conversations between members ofa particular group; a broadcast provider configured to communicate withthe first network entity in order to request setup of a program specificgroup, the broadcast provider being configured to transmit a broadcastservice; and at least one receiving terminal that is a member of theprogram specific group and is configured to transmit interactive servicecontent to members of the program specific group via the first networkentity in response to activation of an interface element of the at leastone receiving terminal, wherein the at least one receiving terminal isfurther configured to present the broadcast service originated from thefirst network entity along with the interactive service content., thefirst network entity not being a member of the program specific group,and wherein information about available broadcast service is provided inan electronic service guide (ESG).
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thebroadcast service provides digital video broadcast data and theinteractive service content provides chat conversation content.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the broadcast provider is configured toreceive the chat conversation content as audio and to convert the chatconversation content to text for transmission to the at least onereceiving terminal.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least onereceiving terminal is configured to transmit the chat conversationcontent to the first network entity and wherein the first network entityis configured to communicate the chat conversation content to otherreceiving terminals.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least onereceiving terminal is configured to transmit the chat conversationcontent to the first network entity, wherein the first network entity isconfigured to communicate to the broadcast provider, and wherein thebroadcast provider communicates the chat conversation content to theother receiving terminals.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the firstnetwork entity is configured to provide a link to the broadcastprovider, the link being accessible to the at least one receivingterminal via a programming guide transmitted by the broadcast provider,the link enabling the at least one receiving terminal to access theprogram specific group hosted at the first network entity via a uniformresource locator (URL).
 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the broadcastprovider is configured to transmit group information regarding themembers of the program specific group to the at least one receivingterminal.
 15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second networkentity configured to include presence information indicative of anavailability of other receiving terminals to join the program specificgroup.
 16. A method comprising: transmitting broadcast content of abroadcast service to a plurality of receiving terminals; requesting,from a network entity, setup of a program specific group forcommunication of interactive service content to at least one of thereceiving terminals that is a member of the program specific group; andtransmitting, via a processor of the network entity that is not a memberof the program specific group, the broadcast service to the at least onereceiving terminal that is a member of the program specific group alongwith the interactive service content to enable output of both thebroadcast content and the interactive service content at the at leastone of the receiving terminals, wherein the interactive service contentoriginates from the receiving terminals, and wherein information aboutavailable broadcast content is provided in an electronic service guide(ESG).
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving theinteractive service as voice input and converting the voice input totext prior to transmission to the receiving terminals.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, further comprising providing a link for the receivingterminals to access a chat group hosted at the network entity via auniform resource locator (URL) in the ESG.
 19. The method of claim 16,further comprising transmitting group information regarding the membersof the program specific group to the receiving terminals.